so while we have seen the principles, the president, speaker boehner, and now senator mcconnell and reid trying to get involved in stages in the last few weeks, it has always broken down because they fundamentally disagree about the big ideas over the core of this debate. they're fighting between the two parties. and this could get resolved in a matter of days or weeks. but the big difference, the issues could really take months to work out. >> can it be resolved in the matter of few enough days that they meet that january 31st deadline? >> reporter: anything is possible. i always think of congress like getting the term paper in. they like to wait until the very night before it is due. and that gives them the motivation, as you know, covering them for so long. we think oh, 24 hours to go, it is over. they think we still have 24 hours, it is a lifetime. so could they get it done? yes, but it sure seems a heavy lift at this point in time. >> it does, and i think the markets would have loved it if they could have done it with days to spare. our chief white house correspondent, thank you, je